Law is a career stream that aspirants can pursue at the Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), or Doctorate (PhD) level to study, research, and practice in India. Law as a career is prestigious and is popular among students in India. Law practitioners include famous people such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Ram Jethmalani, as well as former US President Barack Obama.

Law courses cover the rules and regulations that govern society, which are essential for maintaining order and justice and play a vital role in our lives. There are many types of law, including criminal, civil, constitutional, and international. Criminal law deals with crimes such as murder, theft, and assault. Civil law deals with disputes between individuals or organizations. Constitutional law deals with the structure and powers of government. International law deals with the relationships between countries and various more. 

One can study law in India at various levels:

• To make a career in law, aspirants can study LLB courses at the Undergraduate level, such as BA LLB, BBA LLB, BLS-LLB, BSc LLB, or BCom LLB. Moreover, the LLB course duration lasts for five years. 
• If candidates have already completed their graduation in other streams and now wish to make a career in law, then they pursue a three-year LLB course.
• For those who want to make a career as a Legal Researcher by studying law further, Indian law colleges also offer a two-year or one-year master's degree in law (LLM) followed by a doctoral degree (PhD).

Course Highlights

What is a Law Course?

Law is one of the most popular disciplines of study, which deals with the practices, rules, and regulations governing a community and are considered binding upon its members. Law is one of the most popular courses offered by universities and other law colleges in India. This is evident from the increasing number of law colleges in India, with more than 1000 private and government law colleges for law education. 

Who can pursue Law courses?

Any candidate with good intellect, fluency, speech clarity, and excellent convincing skills is fit for this course. Therefore, those candidates who wish to make a career in litigation or judiciary, which are the traditional career options after completing law, must surely pursue this course. They must exuberate confidence and be unbiased to exercise their judgment effectively. They must have met all the eligibility requirements to secure admission to Law courses across popular colleges in India. 

What is the scope after completing the Law Course?

Law degrees are prestigious and help establish a flourishing litigation, judiciary, or academic career. It has an immense reputation in society and a good salary, which makes it one of the most sought-after courses in engineering and medicine. This course is challenging and demands hard work but eventually provides more excellent stability and security in the future. It instills within professionals a sense of integrity and morality and helps them build the nation by taking up important job profiles such as Advocate, Magistrate, Solicitor, etc. Therefore, candidates must indeed aspire to pursue this course.  

Moreover, a career in law requires one to put in the overtime grind spent on legal research. This sounds laborious; however, to sort a case's black-and-white, one has to immerse oneself in legal research. Law has no shortcuts; even a good lawyer takes years of practice to become sharp-witted. Due to famous case laws, aspirants prefer criminal or civil specialisations in law. However, law specializations, including cyber, patent, commercial, litigation, family, and corporate law, are gaining popularity among Indian law aspirants.

Law Admission

The study of Law in India is highly sought after due to its wide range of employment options and intellectual challenges. However, getting through the legal admissions procedure might take much work. Here is a summary to help you comprehend and get ready:

Admission Process:

• National Level Entrance Exams: CLAT (Common Law Admission Test) and AILET (All India Law Entrance Test) are the most competitive exams for top law schools. Other universities conduct their entrance exams.
• University Merit Lists: Some universities consider Class 12th merit or qualifying exam scores for law admissions.
• Direct Admission: A few colleges offer direct admission based on merit or interviews.

Key Factors to Consider:

• Eligibility: Minimum Class 12th marks are typically required for LLB and entrance exams. Specific requirements may vary for different courses and universities.
• Entrance Exams: Prepare well for your chosen exam using study materials, mock tests, and coaching classes if needed.
• College Choices: Research universities and colleges based on ranking, reputation, specialization options, fee structure, and location.
• Application Process: Understand and adhere to university application and entrance exam deadlines. Gather required documents and fill out forms meticulously.
• Reservation Policies: Be aware of reservation policies for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to understand your eligibility for reserved seats.

Eligibility Criteria

Law colleges across India have different selection processes and eligibility criteria for UG and PG admissions levels. However, given below are the basic eligibility criteria that candidates need to fulfill to secure admission in law courses offered at UG and PG levels and earn a Law degree:

• Eligibility for UG Law Courses: Candidates can secure admission in UG law courses if they have cleared Higher Secondary School/Intermediate (10+2) or its equivalent exam from a recognised board with at least 45% marks in aggregate.
• Eligibility for PG Law Courses: For admission to the LLB (3-year) course, aspirants must graduate from a recognised university. Also, candidates must possess an LLB or equivalent degree from a recognized university for admission to the LLM course.
• Eligibility for Doctorate Courses: For admissions to Ph.D. in Law, i.e., LLD, aspirants must possess a valid postgraduate degree from a recognised university and score at least 55% marks in aggregate. They must appear in the university's Research Entrance Test and face an interview to secure a seat in the PhD course.

Top Law Courses Entrance Exams 2024

Law admissions at most colleges and universities in India are done based on entrance exams. Most law entrance exams for admission in UG-level law courses evaluate candidates based on their aptitude/ knowledge in subjects such as General Knowledge, English, Mathematics (Numerical Ability), Logical Reasoning, and Legal Aptitude.

Law Specialisations in India

The Law courses in India are offered across various specialisations. These specializations are generally offered at the postgraduate level in LLM courses wherein candidates can specialize in one of the fields below according to the market's demand and professional requirements. Candidates can also specialise in multiple sub-disciplines of law to widen their knowledge base.

Law Courses List

Online Law Courses in India

These days, many law colleges in India offer online Law courses to students. These courses are self-paced and can be accessed from home, giving greater flexibility to the learners. The pricing for these courses is also reasonable, ranging between INR 5000-15,000, and recruiters widely recognise the certificates. These courses are popular amongst candidates who wish to expand their knowledge while pursuing their regular degrees or jobs. 

Law Subjects and Syllabus

Law subjects taught in a UG or PG course may vary from college to college. The course is designed in such a way that it gives exposure to candidates on the important legal aspects and offers them a wide range of electives to choose a specialisation for themselves. Candidates can further specialize at the postgraduate level or pursue an advanced diploma in any specialization.

Course Curriculum for Law (UG Courses)

The law courses after the 12th consist of core and elective subjects ranging from branches such as Humanities, Management, or Science. Apart from these subjects, candidates also study honors subjects and other legal subjects such as:

Course Curriculum for Law (PG Courses)

PG course in the form of LLB is pursued after graduation in any discipline, and students are directly taught law-related subjects. In LLM, except few core subjects common across all specialisations, candidates are offered various elective subjects according to their choice of specialisation branch. 

Top Government Law Colleges 

Some of the popular government colleges for law include top National Law Universities as well as the Department of Law across various state and central universities. They have been called temples of modern legal education and are one of the most sought-after colleges by students.

Top Private Law Colleges

Some of the famous private colleges for pursuing Law courses include private universities and others deemed to be universities considered institutes of eminence across India. They offer expert faculties and excellent infrastructure and placement opportunities. The institute's entrance examinations conduct admissions to these institutes.